Board clarifies ordinance after prior votes lacked required majority; several items re-voted

During the president’s report, the Sleepy Hollow Village President (speaker 1) read aloud Sleepy Hollow Ordinance section 154(h)(4), which requires concurrence of a majority of members elected to the village board for passage of ordinances, resolutions or expenditures tied to appropriation.

The president said that at the last meeting some votes had been recorded with only three affirmative votes and an abstention, and that these did not meet the ordinance’s requirement. “We are a board of 6 trustees, 1 president. So a majority of that would be 4,” the president said while reading the ordinance text. She said the board would re‑take the prior votes “as though it had never happened” to create a formal record that meets the ordinance requirement.

Following that direction, trustees reintroduced and approved the following items by roll call: the warrants in the amount of $144,082.93; a $200 donation request for Shop with a Cop; and an ordinance granting a variance for a side‑yard setback to allow construction of a deck at 521 Stevens Court. Roll calls on the re‑votes were recorded as all affirmative and the motions passed.

A public commenter raised protocol concerns and asked the board to clarify whether the ordinance’s majority requirement was for all members elected (not just those present). The president and attorney (referenced in discussion) said they discussed the matter and determined clarification and re‑voting were appropriate to ensure procedural compliance.

The board’s action was procedural: no new policy substance was introduced, but trustees moved to record formal concurrence to correct the prior procedural deficiency.